Kellys Slough NWR Complex

Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex is located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, approximately 11 miles west of the city of Grand Forks. The refuge is situated within the Red River Valley of the Prairie Pothole Region of the U.S. Central Flyway, part of the historic tall-grass prairie region of the Northern Great Plains. It is located in the northeastern part of North Dakota and lies in an area formed by old glacial Lake Agassiz and has a smooth, nearly level topography.

Franklin D. Roosevelt established this refuge in 1936 for use as a haven and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge was designated a WHSRN Site of Regional Importance, as it hosts more than 35,000 shorebirds between April and August. Up to 22 species have been spotted on the refuge during the month of July, which is the start of the fall migration period. Breeding species include American Avocet, Killdeer, Wilson’s Phalarope, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Upland Sandpiper, and Spotted Sandpiper.

Several secondary shorebird and waterfowl sites are within a few miles of the refuge. These include the Lake Ardoch NWR, Stewart Lake Waterfowl Production Area, and Turtle River State Park. The refuge and these secondary sites provide critical habitat for countless bird species. Kellys Slough NWR also provides “keystone” habitat for surrounding grassland bird conservation areas.

A series of water-control structures within Kellys Slough NWR allow water levels in some areas to be manipulated to enhance wetland conditions. Total wetlands by class include: 1,813 acres of managed permanent wetland habitat, 8 acres of riverine habitat, 794 acres of semi-permanently flooded habitat, 95 acres of seasonally flooded habitat, and 39 acres of temporarily flooded habitat, embedded in a matrix of 1,085 acres of managed upland grassland habitat.

The Kellys Slough NWR Complex and surrounding area was the first project area in North Dakota by the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV) through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). Through cooperative efforts among countless agencies, it has become well established as a site for waterfowl production, as a critical stopover site for migratory shorebirds, and as important habitat for other wildlife.

On October 9, 1999 the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network recognized the Altamaha River Delta in Glynn and McIntosh Counties as the 40th major reserve for shorebirds, highlighting its importance as a stopover for migratory and wintering birds traveling between the Arctic and South America. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources estimates this area supports at least 55,000 seabirds and shorebirds annually, stating “There are very few places as valuable to such a large and diverse number of coastal birds in all the southeast United States.”

Prominent features of the delta include sand spit and barrier islands to the north and south with extensive barrier beaches, dunes, maritime forest and salt marshes. The islands and their associated habitats offer exceptional habitat for breeding and wintering birds. The surrounding waters and wetlands provide a readily available food source. The area serves as a resting site for migrating shorebirds, waterbirds and landbirds, including high concentrations of American Oystercatcher (migration/winter: 250), Red Knot (migration 5,000), Dunlin (migration 1,500) and Piping Plover (migration/winter: 65).